When Facing Life’s Mountains
Zechariah 4:1-10
In the vision God gave to Zechariah, the mountain is an illustration of a barrier or hindrance. We might wonder what these strange dreams can teach us today. While the imagery is foreign, the principles are repeated throughout the Bible.
Zerubbabel, leader of Judah, and a group of 50,000 people had been released by their Babylonian captors to return to Jerusalem. There, God’s people began to rebuild the walls of the temple, but were attacked by those living nearby. Consequently, the people were discouraged and ready to give up.
God reminded Zerubbabel through Zechariah that progress is made “not by might or by power, but by My Spirit” (v. 6). In other words, when God calls us to a task, He Himself assumes the responsibility for removing hindrances. God went on to ask, “What are you, O great mountain?” Nothing more than a plain would remain once God worked through Zerubbabel.
We are not to face seemingly insurmountable tasks in our own strength. Instead, we are to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We are like the lampstand that was to be kept continually burning in the temple. In Zechariah’s dream, the olive trees on each side of the lampstand were pouring oil directly into its bowl, with no help from the priests. The Holy Spirit was acting as the olive trees – He was God’s promise of continual help to the weary people. We, too, can trust the Lord to pour His Holy Spirit into our lives for help in facing life’s mountains.
Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries